Meredith Woerner

Every since the announcement that Syfy was canceling Stargate Universe, the fans have been mighty pissed. And Syfy isn't taking it lying down any longer. In a letter to Stargate fans everywhere the studio explains why SGU had to go.

Craig Engler, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Syfy Digital, penned a letter over at Gateworld breaking down the real reasons SGU was canned. It shouldn't surprise you all that the underlying reason was indeed the numbers:

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Engler maps out the fall of SGU both in the letter, and with a chart (attached). He also addressed the accusations that Syfy never cared for the Stargate franchise and is just clearing out more room for wrestling:

You canceled SGU because you hate science fiction:
If we didn't like science fiction we simply wouldn't have made SGU. It's because we like science fiction that we tried it. Even though SGU was ultimately unsuccessful, we don't regret trying it. Science fiction shows are the backbone and lifeblood of our network, and we have many in development. Later this year we'll be debuting Alphas, the Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome pilot is being worked on as you read this, the movie Red Faction starring Stargate Universe‘s Brian Jacob Smith will air next month, 5 of our original dramas will return with new seasons or new episodes this year, and we're working on many more behind the scenes.

You canceled SGU in order to make wrestling:
We would have happily kept making SGU regardless of anything else on our schedule if the ratings were sustainable. We don't discontinue successful shows to make room for other shows … no network does because no network has a full roster of successful series. SGU was judged solely on its own ratings.

Honestly, I don't blame Syfy for letting SGU go. It it wasn't until the second season that I really warmed to new series, and even then it was a struggle. SGU was at its best after it upgraded the FX and did away with all the tedious and obvious stone-sex scenes and just focused on its fractured family. I'm a Stargate fan, and even I wanted to throw in the towel after the copious reset buttons and the infamous boob lens in the first season. I'm glad I didn't, because the second season delivered a lot of great storytelling. But asking an entire world to sit through 20-plus episodes for a pay-off may just have been too much. Granted there were plenty of gems in there, like my personal favorites "Time" and "Earth." Either way, I personally don't blame Syfy — they're a company. In the end of the day, they have to make money, or else we wouldn't have BSG, Being Human and Warehouse 13.